PORTLAND, Ore.-- TransCore Trendlines, a weekly barometer for truckload freight moved on the spot market, reported van rates nationwide increased 2.6 percent in the last two weeks as markets affected by recent winter storms recovered. Three major markets led this upward trend: Philadelphia up 5.2 percent, Atlanta up 4.8 percent and Chicago up 3.9 percent.

Rates for flatbed trucks moved up 1.2 percent in the second half of February and are now slightly ahead, up 0.2 percent of year-end levels.

Rates for all equipment types continue to decline in Los Angeles, but not as steeply as in January. Rates typically reverse in March on outbound freight from Southern California.

TransCore’s weekly truckload rate trend is derived from the company’s Truckload Rate Index, which is based on $4 billion of actual invoices, updated daily, brokers have paid carriers for vans, reefers and flatbeds across the U.S. and Canada.

A more detailed analysis of weekly truckload rate trends and spot freight volume can be found on TransCore Trendlines, published weekly with key indicators from the more than 60 million loads and trucks listed annually on TransCore’s DAT Network of load boards by freight brokers, 3PLs, shippers and carriers across the U.S. TransCore Trendlines also includes industry data from the American Trucking Associations and the U.S. Department of Energy.